Electric temperature-controlling device



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. E. JACOBS.

ELECTRIC TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Patented May 24, 1887.

It-FETERs. Phulwumn r har. Walhinginn. u. C,

(N0 Mndel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

V H. E. JACOBS. ELECTRIC TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING DEVICE. No. 363,645. Patented May 2 L 1887.

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N. PETERS, Phmwumn m hur, Wnshinglon. I16.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. JACOBS, OF FOND DU LAC, \VISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,645,dated Application filed September 27, 1886. Serial No. 214,594.

v and useful Improvement in Electric Temperature-Oontrolling Devices; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the same.

My improvement relates to the class of elec trical apparatus used for automatically controlling the temperature of apartments or inclosurcs, whether by ventilation or by heat regulation, and comprising, broadly, an electrical apparatus the circuit containing which is opened and closed by the action of a thermostat or other suitable heat-measuring instrument to admit or shut off the powerusually compressed air-employed to actuate the valve, damper, or ventilator in the passage through which the temperatureaffecting me dium enters the apartment or inclosure the temperature of which is to be controlled or regulated. As stated, the power commonly employed to actuate such valve, damper, or ventilator, for the purpose set forth, is com pressed air, which ordinarily necessitates the provision of a storage-tank to contain it and a pump to supply the storage-tank-items which add materially to the initial cost of the apparatus, and which, particularly the pump, incur expense and trouble in their maintenance, owing to repairs rendered necessary by wear.

It is my object to provide an apparatus wherein these difficulties shall be overcome by avoiding the use of compressed air or other power requiring special generating and storage appurtenances and providing a mechanism of comparatively simple construction, but effeetive in its purpose, operated by hydraulic power, whereby in places provided with watcr-power introduced into the houses the device may be connected with a hydrant.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a partly sectional and broken diagrammatic view of my improved apparatus; Fig. 2, a sectional view of a detail; Fig. 3, a side elevation ofa detail, showing a modification; Fig. 4, another detail in end elevation; Fig. 5, a sectional view of still another detail, and Fig. 6 a sectional plan view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

May 24, 18 8'7.

No model.)

A is a box containing, with the exception of the battery B, thermostat C, and contactpoints 0' and r, hereinafter more particularly referred to, the entire electrical apparatus portion of my device.

D and D are electromaguets supported within the box A at right angles to each other, the latter having an armature, E, in the form of a bar provided with a notch, q, secured at one end to hang within the box to a reciprocating rod, q, supported to extend above the magnet D longitudinally of the same, and provided toward one end with stops 1) and p and a spiral spring, 0, confined between the stop 11 and side of the box, or a stop, p, as shown, and having a tendency to force the rod in a direction to remove the armature E from contact with the magnet D. The magnet D has an armature, F, on the lever F, of non-conducting material, pivotally supported, as shown, to extend across the magnet, and provided at one extremity with a catch, a, to engage with the armature E in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter described. The opposite end of thelever F embraces the stem of a valve device, G, hereinafter described, which stem extends into the box A,and is surrounded by a spiral spring, 0, confined between a stop, it, forming a guide for the stem, and an adjustable stop, t, by means of which the tension of the spring is regulated, its tendency being, like that of the spring 0, to maintain the armature F away from the electro-magnet D. Oontact-pointsp and p are connected by conductors x and m with the contactpoints r and 1' external to the box A, and between which extends the thermostat C, connected, as shown, with one pole of the battery 13, the opposite pole of which is connected, as shown, to the magnets'D and D.

Y H is a circuit opener and closer,comprising a bar, at, of insulating material, pivotally supported at one end in the box to cause its opposite end to extend between the stops 1) and p on the shifting rod q and between the contact-points p and p,a11d provided with lateral metal prongsl and 1, connected, respectively, by conductors a; and as with the magnets D and D. V

I is a pipe to be connected at its open extremity with the hydraulic power, which, if obtained from a hydrant, may be led to the device by coupling the pipe Ito a faucet. The plpe I leads into a chamber, K, at its base, WhlOh is covered by an airand water tight flexible diaphragm, K, and between the source of water-power and the chamber K is a valve device, 1), (shown in detail in Fig. 2,) and also the valve device G, already referred to, and shown in detail in Figs. and 6.

Leading from the upper side of the chamber K is a pipe, I, which communicates at its opposite extremity with a chamber, M, formed in a bowl, M, by means of a flexible diaphragm,

M upon the center of which is secured a bean ing, it, preferably in the form of parallel vertical arms, as shownin Fig. 4, between which to pivot a lever, N, at its rear extremity, fulcrumed toward its center in a similar bearing, on the bowl M.

Intermediately between thedevice M and chamber K in the pipe 1 is a coupling, 1 at which is connected a vertical branch pipe, 1 leading to the valve device L, which comprises a shell, 71, provided at its upper end with a chamber, K into which the pipe I enters at the top, and closed at its base from communication with the shell by means of. a flexible diaphragm, K like the diaphragm K, and carrying a valve-stem, 2', provided at its lower end with a valve, 2, which serves to open and close communication between the passages and 1', provided in the pipe T, by means of a joint, 2', to which the shell t is connected. The purpose of the valve 2" is to act asa governor, whereby the apparatus may be relieved of the effect of the hydraulic pressure when the latter is not required, as will more clearly appear hereinafter.

The valve device G also comprises a shell, h, opening at its upper end into the box A, but separated therefrom by a flexible watertlght diaphragm, K, through which passes the valve-stem G, carrying at its lower end a valve, G of the form shown in Fig. 6, inclosed within a chamber or shell, h, in the shell h, and which shell h is open around the valve stem. Ajoint, h, is connected into the pipe I, to receive the valve device G, and contains separated passages g and g, each bent from its longitudinal course to extend vertically, as shown, in thejoint h the vertical part of the passage 9, however, extending higher than that of the passage 9, to enable it to be closed by lowering the valve G upon its seat, while the passage 9 can never be so closed.

With the foregoing description of the parts of my apparatus its operation will be readily understood from the following: On connecting the pipe with the water-powerhydrantfaucet-and thelever N with the damper of the furnace or valve in a hot or cold air or hot-water passage, the device is ready for op eration. It will be understood that the thermostat and contact-points r and 7" are necessarily located in the apartment or inclosure the temperature of which is to be regulated, while the other parts of the apparatus may occupy convenient position in any suitable location and arrangement. With the thermostat in contact, as shown,with the contact-point ra position it has been caused to assume, say, by a rise of temperature in the apartment beyond what is required-the circuit containing the magnet D will be closed, causing attraction of the armature Fand consequent release of the armature E, locked against the magnet D, with the armature F in its raised position, by the catch a, which, on being released by the action of the spring 0 upon the shifting rod g, loreaks the circuit by moving the circuitbreaker H into contact with the contact-point p", where it is ready to continue the circuit containing the magnet D when the thermostat shall make contact at the contact-point a" with a fall of the temperature of the apartment be low the desired degree. It will thus be seen that immediately after either magnet is electrified the circuit is broken, to save the battery, but that the armature of such magnet is locked to the same to maintain the parts of the apparatus which it controls in desired operative condition until the other magnet shall be electrified. Thus, when the armature F is attracted, the lever F"releases the armature E, which it had previously locked, and in turn is locked by the armature E, owing tothe engagement of the latch a with the notch q, and when the latteris attracted, releasing the notch and latch from each other, the spring 0 will raise the locking end of the lever F, causing it to hold the armature E against the magnet I). Attraction of the armature F raises the valve G", thereby closing the passage in the shell h around the valve-stem G and opening communication between the passages g and whereby water is permitted to pass through the pipe I (raising the valve '6 by the-force of its pressure) into the chamber K below the diaphragm K. The chambers K, K, and M and pipe 1 contain air at normal pressure, which is compressed by the force of water-pressure exerted against the diaphragm K, thereby forcing the diaphragm K downward and closing the valve i by pressing it against its seat to reduce the pressure, and forcing the diaphragi'n M upward, whereby the oscillating end of the lever N is moved downward from its normal position, as shown, to adjust the damper or valve with which it is connected, as aforesaid, in the desired manner. The movement of the lever N from its normal position by the pressure underneath the diaphragm M may be the reverse ofthat described by pivotingit at its end in the bearing 70", instead of in the bearing is. The apparatus remains in this condition, owing to the locking of the armature F against the magnet D,until the change of temperature in the apartment or inclosure shall produce contact of the thermostat with the point 1-,when the consequent release of the lever F and armature F will lower the valve G against the passage 9 and from the opening around the valve-stem G, permitting the water in the pipe Lbetween the passage 9 and chamber K, to discharge through the valve G into the shell h, and from the apparatus through a l maintained normally out of contact with them waste-pipe, f, thereby permitting the diaphragms K and M to resume their normal positions, causing the valve or damper controlled by the lever N to be moved in the opposite direction for the desired purpose, and again .permitting the pressure of the water-power to overcome the resistance of the diaphragm K and raise the valve i". Of course, when the thermostat is again caused to make contact at the point r the operation of the apparatus will be that first described.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a valve-controlling electrical apparatus in a circuit opened and closed by the automatic action of a heat-measuring instrument,a valve-controlling lever,N, a close compressible airpassage with one end of which the lever N is connected and containing air at normal pressure, and a waterpassage connected with the opposite end of the air-passage through which to introduce hydraulic pressure against the air-passage to compress it and thereby actuate the lever N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a valve-controlling self-locking electrical apparatus in a circuit opened and closed by the automatic action of a heatmeasuring instrument, a valve-controlling lever, N, a close compressible air passage with one end of which the lever N is connected and containing air at normal pressure, and a water-passage connected with the opposite end of the air-passage through which to introduce hydraulic pressure against the air-passage to. compress it and thereby actuate the lever N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7

3. The combination of a valvecontrolling selflocking electrical apparatus in a circuit opened and closed by the automatic action of a heatmeasuring instrument and provided with a circuit opener and-closer, H, a valve-- controlling lever, N, a close compressible airpassage with one end of which the lever N is connected and containing air at normal pressure, and a water-passage connected with the I opposite end of the air-passage through which to introduce hydraulic pressure against-the air-passage to compress it and thereby actuate the lever N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of a valve-controlling lever, N, a close compressible air-passage with one end of which the lever N is connected and containing air at normal pressure, a water-passage connected with the opposite end of the air-passage through which to introduce hydraulic pressure against the air-passage to compress it and thereby actuate the lever N, and an electrical apparatus for controlling the valves in the water-passage in a circuit opened and closed by the automatic action of a heat measuring instrument, and comprising electro-magnets D and I), having their armatures and mutually interlocking,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of a valve-controllrng lever, N, a close compressible air-passage with one end of which the lever N is connected and containing air at normal pressure a wa' ter-passage connected with the opposite end of the air-passage through which to lntroduce hydraulic pressure against the air-passage to compress it and thereby actuate the lever N, and an electrical apparatus for controlling valves in the water-passage in a circuit opened and closed by the automatic action of a heat-measuring instrument, and comprising eleetro-magnets D and D, having their armatures maintained normally out of contact with them and mutually interlocking, and an automatic circuit opener andcloser, H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6..The combination of a valve-controlling lever, N, a close compressible air-passage with one end of which the lever N is connected and containing air at normal pressure, a water-passage connected with the opposite end of the air-passage through which to 1ntroduce hydraulic pressure against the air-passage to compress it and thereby actuate the lever N, and an electrical apparatus for controlling valves in the water-passage in a circuit opened and closed by the automatic action ofa heat-measuring instrument, and comprising an electro-magnet, D, having armature F on a pivoted lever, F, maintaining the armature normally out of contact with its magnet, and provided with a catch, a, an electromagnet, D, having an armature, E, provided with a notch, q, and connected with a shifting spring-rod, g, which maintains it normally out of contact with its magnet, contact-points p and p and a circuit opener and closer, H, connected with the bar q, to be actuated by its shifting movements, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of a valve-controlling electrical apparatus in a circuit opened and closed by the automatic action of a heat-measuring instrument, a valve-controlling lever, N, a chamber, K, having a diaphragm, K, a compressible chamber, M, supporting the lever N, a pipe, 1, connecting the chambers K and M, a pipe, 1, leading to the diaphragm K, a valve device, L, in the pipe I, surmounted by and connected with a compressible chamber, K communicating with the pipe I, and a valve device, G, having disconnected passages g g in the pipe I, and a discharge, 1, and having its stem G connected with the lever F of the electrical apparatus, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' HENR E. J AGOBS.

In presence of GEORGE C. COOK, J. W. DYRENFORTH.

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